The Australian Greens will give the Nationals the opportunity to cross the floor on coal seam gas, with a Senate motion for vote tomorrow (Thursday).
"The Nationals say one thing in the community and then do another in Parliament," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.
"On the Q and A program this week, Nationals Senator Fiona Nash wouldn't answer whether she would cross the floor for a vote on CSG because she said it was a hypothetical question.
"But in reality it's not hypothetical, the Greens regularly put coal seam gas matters to the Parliament and we will again this week, with a Senate motion calling for food security and water resources to be prioritised over coal seam gas.
"Time and time again, when the Greens put coal seam gas matters to the Parliament, the Nationals either vote against farmers or flee the chamber so that they don't have to vote.
"If the Nationals want to put regional communities ahead of their big mining company donors, they will cross the floor in the Senate to support the Greens' motion on Thursday.
"Judging by the voting records of the Nationals, Labor and the Liberals, I doubt any of those parties will support the Greens' motion calling for food security and water resources to be prioritised over coal seam gas.
"The Greens are the party to protect the Northern Rivers, and all of New South Wales, from coal seam gas.
"At the federal and state levels the Greens are working to protect our land, water and climate from coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas.
"While at the federal level, the Nationals, Labor and Liberals try to pass the buck to the state governments, it's clear that they simply don't want to use the federal governments' constitutional powers to regulate coal seam gas companies.
"It's time the old parties joined with the Greens to back our land, water and communities, instead of the big mining and gas companies," Senator Waters said.
Contact - Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725
Text of motion:
Notice of Motion
Federal regulation of coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas
I give notice that on 26 March 2015 I shall move that -
1. The Senate notes:
a. The concern expressed by regional communities about the impacts on food security and water resources from coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas.
b. The federal government has power to regulate the conduct of constitutional corporations, including corporations involved in coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas mining.
2. The Senate agrees that
a. Food security and water resources should be prioritised over coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas mining;
b. The federal government should use its constitutional powers to regulate the conduct of corporations undertaking coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas mining.
Senator Larissa Waters